why would they care if israel gets in? as far as i know, israel has never qualified for the world cup and has such a tiny population that there's no ratings or licensing issue. FIFA could give two sh*ts about a country like that. seriously, guys, it's about money. FIFA wants big and famous footballing countries in because they potentially make big money off of it. they therefore give way more of a sh*t if england gets through, given that english love football and loads of people all over the world buy england jerseys, than, say, the USA, where relatively fewer people care about football, the WC is shown on second rate cable networks, no one buys any jerseys, and has a team full of players no one outside its borders gives a **** about. or bulgaria, where few people live, no tv station can fork over the big bucks for the rights to show the world cup and fewer buy licensed jerseys. etc.